Chicago has a completely different aura at night, Ann discovers. It's like some kind of electric beast awakens as the sun sets and it fills her with something akin to being drunk. She feels so brave and sure when she agrees to get a hotel room with Caius and she can't explain why.
There's a lot of things about the way that man makes her feel that she can't explain.
Caius interrupts her musings by reaching out and grabbing her hand into his while he drives. He idly strokes his thumb along the side of her hand and she feels herself relax into her seat.
Ann takes in his features while he drives and she's always surprised by how handsome he is. If her father ever meets him, she's sure he'll instantly criticize Caius' long hair but Ann thinks he makes it look refined, not unkempt. Caius could be a model for romance novel covers, Ann thinks while trying to hide her grin at the thought, that's how handsome he is.
Caius sees her smiling and looks over at her with one of his own, "Care to share your thoughts?"
Ann shakes her head and goes back to looking out the window while Caius expertly navigates the crowded streets of the Windy City.
"Thanks for bringing me here," Ann says shyly and she tries to avoid looking in Caius' direction, "I really enjoyed it."
Caius raises her hand to his lips and kisses the back of it, "You're most welcome, ἀγαπητή."
Ann's head snaps to look over at him and she sees his sly little quirk of his lips at getting her attention, "What does that mean?"
Caius just hums and pulls off the street. They've made it to the hotel, which apparently wasn't even that far from the Art Institute.
Ann huffs, "We could have walked."
Caius shrugs as he gets out of the car and hands the keys off to the valet. Ann already knows he prefers to open her door for her so she waits for him to come around and do so. She'd tried arguing with him about it on their last date but she learned quickly that he's a stubborn man when he wants to be.
Demetri is there already waiting with their card keys for their suite.
"I'll be one room over," he informs them, "If you should need anything, please do not hesitate to ask."
Ann figures that was for her benefit because Caius doesn't look like he's even paying attention. Instead he's more focused on leading her to the elevators.
Demetri doesn't join them in the elevator and instead stays behind and waits for the next one. Ann gives Caius a look for that, that he in turn appears confused by her annoyance.
"That was mean," Ann says, "-making him wait for the next one like that."
Caius rolls his eyes and pulls her into his side. He leans down and blows a raspberry on her neck that has her letting out a squeal and a laugh, her annoyance already forgotten.
The suite is the most extravagant place she's ever been. It's comprised of three rooms with a bedroom, sitting area, and a massive bathroom. Ann swears she could spend forever exploring the space. Caius has other ideas, apparently as he leads her straight to the bedroom. The bed is beautiful and plush but she suddenly feels nervous now faced with the prospect of what could potentially happen.
She'd felt so brave earlier but now she feels like she's in over her head.
Caius easily unties his bow tie, leaving it slung around his neck as he sits down on the edge of the bed and pulls her towards himself. He must see the hesitation on her face because he softly asks, "What's wrong?"
"I don't know if I'm ready to have sex with you," she tells him honestly.
He smiles kindly up at her and reaches up, resting his palm on her cheek. Ann leans into his touch and he says, "I don't mind. I'm just happy you want to spend the night with me."
Ann had expected some backlash, perhaps even some whining. Men in her life were always only ever thinking about one thing. However, Caius leaves her surprised with his easy acceptance. Was heaven missing an angel or something? How on earth is this perfect man in her life?
Ann grabs his face and crashes their lips together. Caius moves his hand to rest on her lower back, holding her securely against him. Ann finds her legs moving to straddle his lap as they continue to kiss.
The passionate kiss they'd shared at the restaurant earlier is nothing compared to this as Ann feels like she's burning up with the heat of desire. Their kiss breaks and Caius moves to placing cool, open mouthed kisses to her throat and collar bone. Ann tangles her fingers into Caius' hair as he makes a point of marking her neck for anyone to see.
Once he's satisfied with the surely large hickey where her neck meets her shoulder, he moves back to kissing her, coaxing her mouth open and for their tongues to touch.
Things get heated quickly as Anns fingers trail from Caius' shoulders to the buttons on his dress shirt. All too soon, he is divested of the fine fabric, leaving his chest exposed.
Ann pulls away from the kiss to look at his body, letting out a little sigh as she traces her fingers along the ridges of his muscles and perfect skin. He's watching her examine him and Ann must have an expression of desire on her face because Caius' own splits into a pleased grin.
Ann huffs at the realization she's just stroked this man's ego more than he probably needed.
She leans down and starts licking up his chest, bitting at one of his nipples playfully before laving his neck with kisses like he did to hers. He whispers into her ear in a language she can't understand but it spurs her on. Ann tries to push him back onto the mattress so that they can make this a horizontal party, but Caius resists.
He pushes her away gently and says, "We should stop."
Ann almost doesn't want to but does have to admit to herself that she doesn't think she's ready for this to go any further tonight.
"Okay," she tells him, standing up and moving away from him. She runs the back of her hand over her lips to collect the stray saliva from their make-out session. What now, she wonders.
They watch each other quietly for several moments before Ann is startled by a knocking at the door. Caius gets up, not bothering to put his shirt back on, and answers the door to the suite.
Demetri is on the other side and hands over a neatly wrapped parcel to Caius who just nods and closes the door.
"What's that?" Ann asks as she makes her way from the bedroom to the main sitting area.
"Clothing and toiletries," Caius says while setting the package on the coffee table and letting Ann open it, "I had Demetri go out and get some for you so that you would have something to sleep in and such."
That was really sweet of both of them to do that, Ann thinks and she makes a mental note to tell Demetri thank you later. With a man like Caius, she figures he probably doesn't get thanked ever.
Inside the package is both a set of pajamas for Caius and a pretty satin night gown for Ann. She runs her fingers over the soft material and wonders what it must be like to be able to afford this kind of luxury on the regular. Included in the package are toiletries, just like Caius said there would be and Ann takes her portion of them and goes off to the bathroom to get ready for bed.
She may spend a little longer than necessary ogling at the beautiful bath tub and vanity as she takes off her dress and changes into the night gown.
When she does finally exit the bathroom, Caius is already changed into his pajamas and he somehow makes them look incredibly posh. Ann wonders if it's some kind of super power of his or something.
Caius has already prepared the bed for sleeping, giving Ann basically all of the pillows and extra blankets on her side. It's a little awkward at first when they settle in to bed to sleep. Ann isn't sure what she's supposed to do and it seems like Caius is equally struggling. Eventually, Caius turns towards her and wraps his arms around her, pulling her against his chest. He runs his fingers through her hair to relax her and she does surprisingly quick.
Ann falls into probably the best sleep of her life.